Lin Xi knocked on the CEO's office door, but there was no answer.
She waited quietly for a moment, and just as she raised her hand, Duan Yiheng opened the door for her himself: "Come in." Lin Xi stepped inside, only to be blocked by him. "Why did you call me in?" After Qin Yang's reminder, Lin Xi knew he wanted to see her for personal matters.
Duan Yiheng locked the door. Lin Xi's eyes widened slightly. "Why are you locking the door?" "So that certain people can't escape." Duan Yiheng grabbed her wrist and led her to the lounge. "Qin Yang said you saw the unscrupulous media reports about me and Tan Qi?"
Lin Xi shook off his hand. "Just say it outside." "Okay." Duan Yiheng turned around. "Let's say it here. Since you saw it, why didn't you ask me?" Lin Xi turned her face away.
"There's nothing to ask. Whether it's Tan Qi or not, it's bound to happen sooner or later." "Don't play dumb." Duan Yiheng raised his hand and cupped her cheek, turning her around. "You know what I mean." "I just feel I shouldn't have asked."
Lin Xi's eyes were too rational. "We're not in a proper relationship anyway. Asking would be crossing the line, wouldn't it?" Duan Yiheng took a half step forward, staring intently into her eyes. "What if I let you ask?" Lin Xi suddenly fell silent. Duan Yiheng was unwilling to give up:
"Lin Xi, is it true that no matter what I do, you won't care? Why did I go through so much trouble, using such a lame excuse to be with you? I don't believe you don't understand." Lin Xi took a step back in resistance: "Why are you bringing this up again?
Didn't we agree that it was just a simple relationship of mutual comfort?" "That night, if it weren't for your tears, I wouldn't have turned back." Duan Yiheng controlled her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "It was your tears that broke through that barrier."
"You consider this, you consider that, the only thing you haven't considered is me." "Since that's the case, then let's go back to how we were before." Lin Xi clenched her fists tightly. Duan Yiheng's jaw tightened with anger, and he lowered his head to fiercely smother her lips.
He actually loved her soft lips, but every time they opened and closed, they uttered words he didn't want to hear. Lin Xi's breath trembled, and with a hardened heart, she bit Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng frowned and released her, tasting the metallic flavor in his mouth.
"If Mr. Duan has nothing else, I'll head out." Lin Xi was flustered and didn't give him a chance to refuse. Duan Yiheng could only watch her leave the office. He loosened his tie, silently suppressing his anger.
That afternoon, there was a business department meeting on the 17th floor. Lin Xi had no choice but to go downstairs with Duan Yiheng, carrying the meeting materials. Neither of them spoke. After entering the meeting room, Lin Xi distributed the materials and sat down next to him.
Someone whispered below, "Have you noticed something's off between Secretary Lin and Mr. Duan?" "What's off? Isn't it the same as usual?"
"Secretary Lin made a name for herself at the meeting, first severely damaging Director Zheng's confidante Chen Jingyi, and then perfectly resolving Director Zheng's difficult situation. She's gained Mr. Duan's trust, but today she didn't even exchange a glance." "That seems true. Usually, they'd be talking by now."
Chen Jingyi, sitting in the middle, sneered inwardly. After Jiang Hulin returned, although she wasn't punished out of respect for Zheng Jizhong, Chen Liangyi's prestige in the business department plummeted. Duan Yiheng supported Jiang Hulin, and many people switched sides.
Now the business department is in chaos, with two distinct factions. Having already offended Jiang Hulin, she might as well cling to Zheng Jizhong's protection. She knew she was Zheng Jizhong's pawn to control Jiang Hulin, but so what?
After Duan Yiheng announced, "The meeting begins," Chen Liangyi spoke first, outlining the progress of the past month. She paused, then said, "The cooperation intentions from Hongta Group are quite clear; a preliminary cooperation framework has been reached."
Duan Yiheng asked, "What are the specific aspects of the framework? What are the clear needs and feedback? Please provide a detailed explanation of the cooperation timeline and expected benefits."
"I..." Chen Liangyi was at a loss for words; this was something she had only said to attract attention. She had indeed contacted people from Hongta Group and had expressed interest in cooperation. But it was only a preliminary verbal exchange, not a done deal.
"The details still need to be discussed," Chen Liangyi said. "I'll organize them as soon as possible—" "As soon as possible?" Duan Yiheng interrupted her. "Nothing's confirmed yet, what guarantees do you have?"
"You dare to spout nonsense in a meeting without a clear project? Is this how your superiors taught you?" "I'll say it one last time: Yinfan isn't a charity. If you can do it, do it; if you can't, get out."
The meeting room fell silent. Everyone glanced at Duan Yiheng in surprise, then lowered their heads, afraid of being implicated. At the same time, they inwardly despised Chen Liangyi. Chen Liangyi clenched her fists tightly, her cheeks burning.
Jiang Hulin was also surprised by Duan Yiheng's sudden anger, but the other party didn't deserve sympathy; the meeting still needed to continue. He looked to Lin Xi for help. As the "Grand Eunuch," Lin Xi could only bite the bullet and try to quell the "Emperor's" anger.
She opened a bottle of purified water for Duan Yiheng and handed it to him. Duan Yiheng didn't take it, saying, "It's cold." Lin Xi immediately said, "Then I'll prepare some warm water for you." Duan Yiheng's silence was tacit agreement.
A short while later, Lin Xi brought him warm water, and Duan Yiheng finally deigned to take a sip. But he frowned. Lin Xi noticed, and before she could speak, Duan Yiheng said expressionlessly, "It's hot." How could that be? She had clearly filled the bottle with forty-degree water.
She suspected Duan Yiheng was picking a fight. But she couldn't say anything in the meeting, so she could only respectfully say, "I'll go prepare another cup for you." Duan Yiheng said, "No need, let's continue the meeting." Everyone was still holding their breath.
Even the highly valued Secretary Lin had been put in a difficult position; how bad must President Duan's mood be today? The meeting ended an hour later. Duan Yiheng waved his hand: "You all go first."
Everyone got up and left the conference room. Lin Xi packed up her documents and was about to leave as well, but Duan Yiheng didn't. Standing to the side, Lin Xi asked, "Mr. Duan, aren't you leaving?"
Duan Yiheng, presuming on her feelings, assumed she was concerned for him and mentally forgave her earlier coldness. "Help me pick out a gift," Duan Yiheng said. "It's Mr. Qin's son getting married." Lin Xi responded:
"Okay, what's the wedding date?" "January 12th," Duan Yiheng said. Lin Xi: "I'll have the gift ready before January 12th." The conference room fell into a brief silence again. Duan Yiheng took a sip of water and frowned.
Lin Xi looked at him strangely: "Is it really hot?" Duan Yiheng glanced at her slowly: "My tongue is sore."